Indiana State University’s School of Music will host its 51st annual Jazz Festival on February 21, 2026, in University Hall, continuing a long-standing tradition of outstanding jazz performance, education, and community engagement.
This year’s festival will feature guest pianist Sullivan Fortner and his trio, who will headline an evening performance at 7:30 p.m. Fortner is the recipient of the 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award. His trio was named Rising Star Jazz Group in the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll and is internationally recognized for its inventive sound and exceptional musicianship.
The Indiana State University School of Music received a Chamber Music America Presenter Program Jazz grant to host the Sullivan Fortner Trio, with additional support provided through the university’s Experiential Learning and Community Engagement Grant.
“The ISU Jazz Festival has always been about bringing people together through music,” said Peggy Moran, Director and Professor of the School of Music. “Hosting artists like Sullivan Fortner and Jamey Aebersold gives students at every level an experience that is both artistically inspiring and educationally transformative.”
The festival will showcase performances by the Indiana State University Jazz Band alongside 11 high school and middle school bands from across the region. Participating students will have the opportunity to perform in a collegiate setting while engaging directly with nationally and internationally recognized jazz artists.
Adding to the festival’s distinctive programming is Corni Angelicus, an ensemble affiliated with Indiana State University faculty. The group features a unique arrangement of four French horns with a jazz rhythm section and offers a compelling blend of classical technique and jazz expression.
Education remains at the heart of the Indiana State Jazz Festival. Sullivan Fortner will lead a masterclass for students, offering firsthand insight into professional performance and musicianship. In addition, legendary jazz educator Jamey Aebersold will present two improvisation clinics based on his influential and best-selling jazz education series, providing a rare learning opportunity for students and educators alike.
“This festival reflects Indiana State University’s commitment to excellence in the arts and to meaningful experiential learning,” said Melinda Roberts, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “For more than five decades, the Indiana State Jazz Festival has enriched our campus and community by connecting emerging musicians with world-class artists and educators.”
The Gamma Omega chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the professional music fraternity, coordinates the festival. Student leadership plays a central role in the festival’s success, with student director Tony Owen overseeing event coordination and logistics in collaboration with Indiana State faculty and staff.
Now entering its 51st year, the Indiana State University Jazz Festival continues to celebrate jazz as a living art form, honoring its traditions while amplifying the voices shaping its future.
Jazz Festival Schedule of Events
Saturday, February 21, 2026 – University Hall – all events are free and open to the public
8:00 a.m. – Terre Haute South High School
8:30 a.m. – Northview High School
9:00 a.m. – Honey Creek Middle School
9:30 a.m. – Break
10:00 a.m. – Plainfield Community Middle School
10:30 a.m. – Break
11:00 a.m. – Improvisation Masterclass #1 with Jamey Aebersold (Boyce Recital Hall)
12:00 p.m. – Break
1:00 p.m. – Improvisation Masterclass #2 with Jamey Aebersold (Boyce Recital Hall)
2:00 p.m. – ISU Jazz Ensemble
2:30 p.m. – Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School
3:00 p.m. – Terre Haute North High School
3:30 p.m. – Lake Central High School
4:00 p.m. – Rantoul Township High School
4:30 p.m. – Mahomet-Seymour High School
5:00 p.m. – Piano Masterclass with Sullivan Fortner
6:00 p.m. – Break
6:30 p.m. – Corni Angelicus Performance
7:30 p.m. – Sullivan Fortner Trio